Arabian Adventures for DF

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

Not especially. Allah dominates all other powers, and weird foreign wizards may also be demon-worshippers or blasphemers, but there's no particular laws against magic that I can recall. Djinn - creatures of supernatural power - can be good Muslims, after all.

For that matter, Islam probably has less of a record of witch-hunting than Christianity. A wizard who presents as a scholar, doesn't claim that his powers make him theologically special, and shows up at the mosque on Fridays, might well be seen as basically okay.

Originally Posted by The Quran

"Keep away from the seven destructive sins!" They said, "What are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He answered, "Associating partners with Allah; practicing sorcery; taking a life, which Allah has made forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic Law); eating Riba (usury) eating up an orphan's wealth; fleeing from the battle field at the time of fighting (with the unbelievers); and accusing chaste women, who never think of anything that can touch their chastity and who are good believers, of fornication.

Originally Posted by The Quran

One who learns magic, less or more, has become an infidel and his association with Allah is completely severed.

Pretty sure magic is forbidden there. They're still executing people for practicing magic to this day, including street performers. This setting is literally spitting in Allah's face, and how this sahir has any power at all shatters my suspension of disbelief.

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

Pretty sure magic is forbidden there. They're still executing people for practicing magic to this day, including street performers. This setting is literally spitting in Allah's face, and how this sahir has any power at all shatters my suspension of disbelief.

What about the wisemen who came at the birth of Isa (Jesus )?

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by b-dog

What about the wisemen who came at the birth of Isa (Jesus )?

The light they saw in the sky was an obvious beacon. Significantly less haram than astrology. Also, Divine Will wanted them there.

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by Nereidalbel

The light they saw in the sky was an obvious beacon. Significantly less haram than astrology. Also, Divine Will wanted them there.

Aren't wisemen wizards in other terminology? My wife is latina and they call the wisemen Mago.

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by b-dog

Aren't wisemen wizards in other terminology? My wife is latina and they call the wisemen Mago.

Wisemen can also be scholars. That wizards are also frequently scholars leads to some confusion.

[b-dog]

Disclaimer :This setting is not set in the real world. It is a fantasy world based loosely on myths and legends and on other RPG books like GURPS Arabian Nights and Ars Magica.

[b-dog]

Day 3 of the journey to the Nile (assuming normal travel time). The desert has been extremely hot during the day and cold and unforgiving at night but a well prepared party should have no problem getting to the first encounter assuming they follow the map.

Bedouin ambush. All PCs must roll vs Per or suitable skill at -7 to detect the Bedouins who have surrounded their party. On a failed detection the Bedouins charge into the party from all directions. Attack ensues. The Bedouin are each 250 pt Barbarians using spears and scimitars. Their leader also has weapon master with his scimitar. There is 1 Bedouin warrior for each PC plus the leader. If the party surrenders then the Bedouin might offer peace depending on a reaction roll. If the reaction roll is bad then the Bedouin continue fighting until they have lost half their party and then they retreat. If the roll is good then the Bedouin may spare them and allow them to pass. If the party explains that they are Muslim or People of the Book then they may also dress their wounds, give them mint tea and allow them to stay one night in their tent.

If the PCs see the Bedouins before the ambush then they can do a reaction roll right away and have dialog before any attack.

The Bedouin are a religious people and they carry prayer beads. These beads give +5 to resist magic spells but they only work if the PCs are Muslim. The Bedouin have some gems and jewels of $2000 and another $100 in coins. Their mint tea is worth $30.

[b-dog]

Day 6 of the journey. The desert was even hotter than the first leg of the journey. Water must be rationed well. The PCs come accross a stopped caravan in a shallow valley. There is singing and music coming from inside a large tent. There are camels hitched outside the tent and people walking in and out of the tent having a good time.

If the PCs come up to the tent then a guard will ask them why they are here. He will say no one can enter the tent unless they leave their weapons and armor outside. If they refuse then the guard will call the leader.

The leader comes and introduces himself and says he wants no trouble and that he is just a merchant and the leader of the caravan. He says his name is Azrak and he appears as a short fat man with a thick black beard. He wears a red scarf on his head with a desert gown.

If the PCs look inside the door of the tent Per -3 they see men drinking and some women doing belly dancing inside. If the PCs say something about this then Azrak will plead that he is not Muslim and he wishes to disrespect or to cause trouble, he is just is passing through these lands selling his wares. If the PCs have trouble then Azrak pleads for his life as do the rest of the people in the tent.

If the PCs enter the tent then for every hour in the tent they gain a -1 to their Will rolls, for every drink they also gain -1 to their Will roll, and if they ask the company of the dancers then they also gain a -1 for viewing each dance.

The full name of Azrak is Azrak ibn Iblis and for obvious reasons he won't disclose it. If any holy PCs take off his red scarf they can see the word "kaffir" written on his forehead. In his true form Azrak has the form of centauroid scorpion with his normal upper body as that of a man while his lower body is a scorpion. He fights with a scimitar at skill 24 and he can claw with his scorpion claws skill 18 while his stinger is at skill 28 and the poison causes 6d damage unless a HT roll is made at -4. The dancing girls are succubi while the rest are a sorted demons and Infernal djinn.

Azrak hopes the PCs will enjoy themselves and lose their Will but they see "kaffir" on his forehead and they know what it means then he will give up the ruse and attack. If the PCs don't know what kaffir means then Azrak will lie and try to convince them it is some sorcery and that he wishes to find a cure.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by b-dog

Disclaimer :This setting is not set in the real world. It is a fantasy world based loosely on myths and legends and on other RPG books like GURPS Arabian Nights and Ars Magica.

I don't think that anybody here is proposing that this setting should emulate reality, just suggestions and questions to help it achieve internal logic and consistency with your stated intentions.

[b-dog]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

I don't think that anybody here is proposing that this setting should emulate reality, just suggestions and questions to help it achieve internal logic and consistency with your stated intentions.

What is so unrealistic? That in lands where Allah holds Dominion mana and other sanctity retreats during the call to prayer? Outside of town there isn't Dominion so the mana levels function normally. The idea that the PCs can be hired to perform an expedition without killing the person hiring them? Just curious.